Additional details

I thought I'd post what the plan is if we are able to pass our tests and actually go down the IVF road with Dr. S.

As I mentioned last, I'll start taking the DHEA, probably on Monday or Tuesday, when it comes in. I will call on CD 1, go in for CD 3 blood work to test FSH, LH, E2, and AMH (ovarian reserve test).

I'll then take clo.mid 100 mg CD 5-9. Test FSH, E2 on CD 10. I'll also have another blood test 10 days after I start the DHEA to test my levels for that.

After we regroup, if, as I said above, we get the green light to proceed, here's the plan:

• 300 units of Menop.ur (he uses this rather than Repr.onex as it is a pure rather than synthetic med)
• 300 units of Bra.velle (again, he prefers this over Fo.llistim as it comes from the real deal rather than fake stuff)
• Gani.relix (an antagonist) when my follies get to be about 14 mm
• Growth hormone (Sai.zen)
• Dexamet.rason (sp??) - actually not sure what this is for
• Optional acupuncture
• ICSI

It is somewhat ironic that all the meds he plans on using I have zero of. If you recall, I have left over Foll.istim and Re.pronex. I guess I will continue to save these for possible donor, however, since we may have to wait a year for that and the meds may expire before then, I will be donating the meds to a person in need (well, I'll ask that they reimburse me for my copayments, which is still CHEAP compared to what they could pay cash price).

I almost scared myself this afternoon as I went online to check my insurance benefits. I tried searching for some of the meds, and they weren't coming up, when they had before. However, I did go on our internal website and found our outline of benefits and it does say that IF treatment is still covered. Phew! I just need to figure out why it isn't pulling up the drugs. I'll have to contact customer service to see what's going on with the online system.

I did have to pay out of pocket for the DHEA, which considering, is nothing compared to what others pay. I'm not in the least bit complaining. My benefit summary did state that it doesn't reimburse for meds filled by non-participating pharmacies, which this one isn't. Oh well. I'll just make sure that all future meds are filled by my insurance company's specialty pharmacy.

Did I ever tell you how I came to have IF coverage? My employer was purchased a year and a half ago by a much larger insurance agency based out of Chicago, IL. Illinois has a state mandate for infertility. So when we moved over to their insurance, poof! I have IF coverage, which was perfect timing. My old insurance carrier would diagnose IF, but didn't provide any coverage to treat it. My coverage isn't a lot. I have up to 6 attempts at IVF, which may sound like a lot, but it's a $10,000 lifetime maximum benefit. I'm very fortunate that the blood work, ultrasounds, medications do not apply to the $10,000. Only actual retrieval, the ICSI, the fertilization and growing, then transfer are applied to that amount. So I figure I probably have about 1.5 - 2 IVF attempts worth of coverage.

Now that I've written a short novel, I'll go watch Desperate Housewives. I tried watching it Sunday night, but the digital signal for ABC was jacked up, and I was unable to sit through the jumping, skipping and still frames. I'm going to go online and watch it.

Monday ramblings

I bought a new stove and it was delivered on Saturday. It's a Ken.more that I bought from Se.ars. While the outside of the stove is the exact same size as my other one or any normal range, the inside is HUGE! It's a 5.8 cu ft convection oven, it has a warming tray below that I can put food or plates in to keep warm. It's a glass top with five burners. Much easier to keep clean than my other stove with the coil burners. And the oven is self-cleaning! One feature that it has is a Sabbath/Jewish Holiday setting. I'm not exactly sure how that works, but since I'm not Jewish, I guess it doesn't matter.

I gave our old stove to Hubby's Aunt & Uncle who live down the street. Their old stove was going out, and since our stove was perfectly functioning (except it didn't clean itself), I gave it to them.

I made Hubby a very yummy dinner last night. Roasted herb chicken with roasted vegetables. Oh, let me tell you, if you have to buy just one cookbook, make it the red checkered Bett.er Hom.es and Gar.dens cookbook. That thing rocks! It has some of the best everyday, normal cooks (i.e. non-gourmet), recipes in there. I have leftovers for lunch today, woohoo!

Tonight we're going over to Hubby's Aunt's to celebrate his cousin's return from the war. I haven't seen Levi (his cousin) yet, but Hubby did when Levi came into his restaurant to eat. Hubby said that he ate and ate and ate! lol I guess you just don't get good Pueblo Mexican food while you're in Iraq/Afghanistan.

Tomorrow night after work I'm going to get my hair done. My roots have grown to the point that they need immediate attention. It wouldn't be so bad if they were just my natural color, however, my natural color is 60% gray, so therefore it needs covering, and pronto! I'm debating whether to cut my hair short again, or let it continue to grow. It's about chin length now all the way around (although it's still layered), where I had the back cut very short so I could easily fluff it up. We'll see how I feel tomorrow.

Two more days and I think I might use a HPT. Maybe. Or I might just wait some more. I don't expect AF until around the 24th. Maybe I'm just being delusional thinking I even have a chance. However, I did start taking my pre-natals again, as I had stopped them (I actually ran out and just hadn't bought any). We'll see what happens.

October is going to be a busy month for us. We're going to New Mexico the first weekend to see the winner of last year's America's Got Talent (or whatever the name of that show is). It was a ventriloquist. My MIL wants to see him, so that is our Christmas present for the year. Then we'll be in Las Vegas for the ICS world's championship chili cookoff. Hubby will go hunting after we get back (which means I'll be home alone -ugh, I hate when he's gone overnight). Busy, busy month.

Okay, time to quit rambling now. Have a great Monday!

P.S. Desparate Housewives starts up on Sunday! Yes!!!!

Desperate Housewives

Last night I finally got the chance to watch the season finale of Desperate Housewives. It was pretty good until "Five Years Later." What the heck is up with that??? So all the sudden we are skipping five years? And who the heck was Susan kissing? Did Mike die in a kitchen plumbing accident or did he cheat on her like her first husband? Poor Lynette, I would not have expected the boys to turn into hoodlums. Gabbie's girls are cute. Not sure what exactly was going on with Bree.

Anyway, if you watch DH and have any insight or opinion as to what is going on, please share. Inquiring minds want to know!